Mary C. Gardner

Mary Bush Gardner, 91, of LaFayette, New York, formerly of “The Valley” in Syracuse, New York, died Friday, November 6th, 2015 at home with her loving family at her side. Mary was born on March 1st, 1924, at home, in Hails Station, Oklahoma, (which is outside Tulsa), to LeRoy and Leora Bush. At the age of 2 years old, the family moved to Lafayette, New York. Mary also had a brother William Bush, he was killed in WWII, shot down in the South Pacific, his remains were never found. Mary was a graduate of LaFayette School District and went on to graduate from Powelson Business College, which is now known as Bryant & Stratton. She was engaged to our father (Willard L. Gardner) and they married on February 9th, 1946, they were married 65 years before her husband’s passing on November 2nd, 2011. They lived in the Valley/Southside area of Syracuse, New York, for 42 years, at which time they had 5 children: William L. (Kathy) Gardner - Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sandra J. (Donald) Carlton - of Alamagordo, New Mexico, Gary R. (Victoria) Gardner of Camden, New York, Pamela J. (Rawley) Torrance of Marcellus, New York, Cheryl A. (late husband Walter) Brady - of Los Lunas, New Mexico, now resides in LaFayette, New York; Mary and Willard later moved to LaFayette, New York, where they had lived for approximately 25 years. Mary started working part time for Smith Corona, when her youngest child was 3 years old, she then went on to work for Syracuse University and went on to her last 20 years of employment at Upstate Medical Center as a medical secretary in the OB-GYN Department where she retired in 1989. Mary is survived by her 5 children and their spouses, 14 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 8 great-great grandchildren, and 2 nieces, 6 nephews, and several cousins and friends. She was always the center of her family, her life and happiness were always centered around her faith as a Christian, her family and friends. Anyone who met her, never forgot her kindness; she never had a harsh word for anyone, and you never heard her complain. I guess you could say, you felt touched by an Angel. She will truly missed by all, and how Blessed we have all been by having her in our lives as our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, aunt, and friend. Memorial service and burial will be approximately one year due to her body being donated to the Anatomical Department of the University of Syracuse. My mother and father decided to donate their bodies to Science when my mother worked at Syracuse University and Upstate because they felt it was very important that the medical students have cadavers to study in their research. A memorial service has been scheduled for Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at Columbian Presbyterian Church, Corner of Route 20 & Route 11, LaFayette, New York 13084. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the church of your choice.

Mary C. Gardner

March 1, 1924 - November 6, 2015